"Good enough"

[TCinVA]

My latest article for Caleb is about the concept of "Good Enough." The idea struck me when I saw a preview for the new Bond movie and noticed in it that 007 is once again using the PPK. I then happened to glance over to my DVD collection and Dirty Harry was plainly visible. I got to thinking how James Bond and Dirty Harry had very different ideas about what was "good enough" in terms of their chosen sidearm.

...and thus began a long and winding pattern of thought that started to look like an article once I met a guy in a gunstore looking for a gun for his mother.

Good Enough

Short version:

James Bond and Dirty Harry had completely different ideas about what was "good enough" as a sidearm. If we assumed both were real, both would have had ample experience to back up the idea of their preferred solution being "good enough" for their purposes.

I contend that "good enough" is properly understood as the conclusion reached after rational consideration of all the relevant factors in play...the right-now answer one has based on their understanding of the problem they're trying to solve, the resources available to them to solve it, the information they've sought out, and the constraints of their environment. When any of these factors change, so too does the definition of "good enough".

This concept applies to everything from firearms to unarmed skills to fitness. "Good enough" is often used as a means of evading effort, and so it tends to have a negative connotation. It's true, however, that there is a point at which some piece of equipment or skill is actually "good enough" to accomplish a given mission when all other relevant factors are considered. "Good enough" shouldn't become a hammock for the lazy, but neither should rational people be unwilling to accept "good enough" solutions. In many instances we're forced to. You probably aren't driving the best car in the world...you're driving one that's good enough. You probably don't have the fastest computer or cell phone available...just one that's good enough. It does what you need it to do...

[Cecil Burch]

Very nice article. Nice job dude.

[Joe in PNG]

There's also a big difference between "good enough" and "not really appropriate to the task at hand". Pistol gripped Mossberg 12ga's and Judge .410 pistols fall in the second category... especially for an elderly woman that doesn't shoot.

[JHC]

TV, that's probably the most favorite thing to me you've ever posted. "Good enough" includes "good". Good is better than bad or nothing. I'm a "lazy lame" (who recognizes that notorious quote?) when it comes to obsessively chasing the max 99 score on JodyH's drill or a sub 5 FAST every day on demand. But I rate it "good enough" and shoot other stuff for other skills of just for fun.
So you're post makes me feel good about me. I actually think the .22LR semi auto rifle is a great NDP choice too.

[YammyMonkey]

I think we have to be careful to distinguish between the concepts of good enough and appropriate for the task at hand. Dirty Harry's mission was much different than Bond's, so that could very well be driving the fictional character weapon choice.

Most appropriate for an NPE where you have serious legal or career consequences is going to be different than most appropriate for an environment where, if made, you can just shrug it off & go on your merry way.

On the skill side, I can understand good enough in the context of getting a particular piece up to a level where you think it is adequate and decide to focus on something else, but I don't think we should ever just settle in on our laurels and stop trying to improve. Even if it's just minor tweaks to a movement, or micro-loads on the bar I think we should always strive to be just a little better than the day before. And that includes being a better with our families. Being a badass won't do you much good if your kids don't really know who you are, or care, because you're always gone doing something more "important."

[Kyle Reese]

Excellent write up, TC.

I still say that a covert type like Bond would have been better served with a PPS / PPQ, or even his trusty P99 from Casino Royale.

[David Armstrong]

Very nice article. I've pushed the idea of "good enough" for a long time and in a lot of places, often with very limited success. I think the key is where you state
“Good enough” is supposed to be the answer one reaches after rational consideration of information deliberately sought out for the purpose of making an informed decision.
What so often happens is that the answer is not based on a rational consideration (better to have and not need is a good example) and there has been no effort to find or understand the information that is available (statistics don't matter) thus there is no way to make an informed decision. "Good enough" really is relative, and hopefully more people will come to understand that.

[Tamara]

What so often happens is that the answer is not based on a rational consideration (better to have and not need is a good example) and there has been no effort to find or understand the information that is available (statistics don't matter) thus there is no way to make an informed decision

If there's one thing that I've learned from the internet it's that he's a sheeple, I'm prepared, and you're paranoid.

[ChrisG]

If there's one thing that I've learned from the internet it's that he's a sheeple, I'm prepared, and you're paranoid.

That is an exceptional turn of phrase. Bravo!

[David Armstrong]

If there's one thing that I've learned from the internet it's that he's a sheeple, I'm prepared, and you're paranoid.

Yep....Goes right along with if you carry one round less than I do you are woefully unprepared but if you carry one round more you than I do you are clearly lugging around a bunch of junk you will never need.